Expected To Provide More Flexibility In Obtaining Instrument Ratings

EASA published a Decision on the 1st of April to accompany the recently published regulation on new and more accessible instrument ratings (IRs) focused on GA pilots. The agency says the rule is part of its on-going work to simplify and improve GA regulations. This decision is expected to provide more flexibility in obtaining such ratings, thereby allowing more pilots to safely operate in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), for example in low visibility.

With this regulation and the Decision (AMC/GM[1]) the European Commission and the Agency introduce three new pathways towards obtaining a rating with the privilege to fly in IMC: the competency-based instrument rating (CB-IR), the En-route Instrument Rating (EIR) for private and commercial airplane pilots, and the cloud flying rating for sailplane pilots.

The regulations and the AMC/GM material are the result of extensive consultations with experts from national authorities, flight crew organizations, training schools, and the GA community.

EASA says it is on the road towards simpler, lighter, better rules for General Aviation.

FMI: http://easa.europa.eu